By the Sword

chapter Four



Jalarn leaned over the old spell book that Chrissa had given him. There were so many spells, so many ways to achieve power through wizardry, but it wasn’t enough just to read about it. Magic was something that he should have considered learning years ago.

Anger suddenly raced through his veins.

Why would Ittonifer keep these spells from me? We could have conquered the whole world by now.

There was so much to know. Too much to know, it seemed.

Jalarn leaned back in his chair and rested his eyes. Ittonifer still didn’t trust him enough to let him in on the study of magic. When Jalarn opened his eyes again, a bright glowing ball emerged from the page. He stared at it and blinked. It was still there.

Magic. Real magic.

The ethereal sphere floated to the doorway and remained there.

Jalarn put the book back into its place on the shelf and then followed the bright bundle of energy.

It led him down the hallway that led out of his wing and past Ittonifer’s study. It stopped at a bolted door that he had ignored hundreds of times before.

Jalarn unbolted the latch and his pulse raced. What was behind that door? The glowing object led him through the doorway and down a dark, narrow stairway. He picked up his pace to keep up with his only source of illumination. As he neared the bottom of the steps, soft amber light bounced off the walls.

He stood at the bottom of the staircase. The magical bundle of light faded until it disappeared completely.

He stood in a cave-like room. It was lit by several torches that were secured on the stone walls. There were several cauldrons and shelves upon shelves of books, scrolls, jars, and bottles, but there was not a soul to be seen.

Jalarn walked around the large room. There were jars filled with everything from rats’ tails to dried flowers. It was the most captivating display that he had ever seen. He wanted to know the different ways of manipulating every single item in the room.

How long would it take for me to know how to use all of these things?

He walked over to a statue of a mighty warrior, carved out of black stone. Gooseflesh emerged over his body as he stared at it. There was something about it that made him never want to take his eyes off of it.

This has to be the most powerful thing in the lair.

Dragging footsteps and raspy breathing interrupted the silence.

Jalarn turned to face an old, boney warlock who wore a black hooded robe and an amused expression.

“What may I help you with, young Jalarn?”

“How do you know who I am?”

“I happen to know many things about you. My name is Aterun. I am the high magician here. I’ve been watching your progress, and I knew that one day you would come to me for guidance.”

How? I didn’t even know that this place existed.

“The great prince has very special plans for you. He has given me the responsibility of teaching you.”

“So you speak with him then?”

With a wistful smile, the elderly warlock nodded.

“Everyday.”

“I suppose he would speak to an accomplished warlock that often.”

Jalarn glanced up at the statue of the powerful knight.

“Who is that?” Jalarn asked.

The magician clasped his frail hands together. He was clearly taken by the idol.

“It is our lord. Legend has it that the prince himself carved it from the moon’s stone after he fled Heaven. It is a daily reminder of his strength and courage for us to go against the oppression written throughout the God followers’ Scriptures.”

A shiver ran down Jalarn’s spine.

Carved by the most powerful being in the universe.

“I want to gain more power for our army on the battlefield. The Malinorian Empire can use it to expand to its full potential.”

“Yes, I know. Come, let me show you something.”

“Are you the only magician here?”

“No. There are ten others.”

“Where is everyone?”

“We usually congregate before our evening meal and worship the great prince, but I knew that you would be here tonight.”

The withering man led Jalarn to a spring-fed pool.

“You want me to go into the water?” asked Jalarn.

Aterun did not answer him.

“Can I, too, communicate with our great prince?” asked Jalarn.

“In time.”

The warlock closed his eyes and dipped both of his hands in the water. He then grasped Jalarn’s hands.

Jalarn pulled them away at first, but then he relaxed. The magician had to know what he was doing. Aterun gripped Jalarn’s hands firmly, clicking his tongue several times.

As weariness overcame Jalarn, he closed his eyes.

The old man began to sing in a strange tongue. It was the most mournful, soothing song that Jalarn had ever heard.

Images started to appear in Jalarn’s mind – of a woman dying in childbirth, of ten soldiers being charred instantly from a fire-breathing dragon’s breath, of a worthless man slitting his own throat. Every new vision comforted him more than the previous.

Yes. I see it. Death is a beautiful thing for those who trust in the prince.

Jalarn’s hands grew warmer from the warlock’s touch until something hot quickly shot up his arms. He shook as a foreign sensation swept through his entire body. Then, it seemed to reach deep into his soul, coating it.

He could barely breathe.

A soft, assuring voice penetrated his trance.

“Jalarn. Kill for me. Steal for me. Destroy for me. Do these three things to my enemies, and you will be rewarded with more power than you could ever imagine in this life and in the next. I will be by your side until the day comes for your flame to die out, and then we will be together forever. You will never have to be afraid. I will protect you from all harm. Just serve me.”

It was him. The prince.

Jalarn found his breath again.

“I will, my prince!” he shouted.

Suddenly, all Jalarn could hear was the old warlock chanting. Then, the elderly man’s voice quieted. The heat that had rushed through Jalarn’s body left immediately.

Jalarn opened his eyes.

The warlock was staring at him.

“You have just been chosen and ordained as a magician by our lord. You are now ready to learn of the power that he has given to us.”

Jalarn swallowed, still in a euphoric daze. The prince had really spoken to him.

“I don’t know anything,” said Jalarn.

“Not yet. We will start at the beginning with the most basic spells. There is much for you to learn and remember, but you will be fine. I just need you to stay focused. Understand?”

“Yes. Anything for the prince.”


General Edandir and his small group of spies landed their dragon steeds at Noir Peak. They dismounted and then suited up with the black armor that they had retrieved from fallen Malinorians in Cardamon. It had been a grim, but necessary action.

“I never would have thought that I would wear a demon’s armor,” said Timlin.

“We just came from a destroyed country, with fallen people strewn everywhere, and that is all you can think about?” asked Tanel.

“Silence lads. We have an important task to accomplish. Besides, you know how sensitive our firedrakes are to bickering,” said Endil.

It had been difficult revisiting Cardamon, especially for Talya and Tanel. They had once again witnessed the great bloodshed right on their homeland. The ground had been littered with so many dismembered bodies.

Edandir watched Talya slip on a dark iron mask. The armor was way too big for her, but she would have to manage.

He looked away.

Maybe it was not a good idea to bring her with us.

“Well, this sure beats riding on horses,” said Pori lightly.

The sleek, fire-breathing reptiles were an excellent choice of transportation for the mission.

“No doubt,” said Endil. “Our fine general here was the one who found these creatures when they were just hatchlings. He tamed them himself and brought them to the king.”

“Really?” asked Tanel.

“Yes,” said General Edandir.

“You never told me about that,” said Talya in obvious disdain.

“It was long before your time. I never thought to.”

“Where did you find them?” Talya asked.

“In the forest near the castle in Sanctus City. I was with your mother that day. She was the one that heard them first.”

“I wonder why she never told me the story,” said Talya.

General Edandir’s pulse raced. This was not the time or the place for such a conversation. He wished that Endil had kept his mouth shut.

“If only they could lay more than one egg at a time. The whole army could be riding dragon steeds by now,” said Endil.

“Imagine the look on old Ittonifer’s stone cold face if that happened,” said Timlin.

Everyone laughed except for Talya.

“How were all seven of these dragons together if a dragon can only lay one egg at a time?” asked Tanel.

“Someone maybe gathered several eggs together from different mothers,” said Talya.

She glared at Edandir.

“I will tell you about it one day, but for now, we have a mission to complete,” said Edandir.

“Yes, Sir,” they all replied in unison.

They remounted their dragons and flew to the south side of Ittonifer’s homeland. They landed in a dense forest and tied their dragons to the thick tree stumps.

A dirt road just past the forest led them to Malinor City. Edandir had not been there since his youth, but it had not changed at all. It was strange to experience the sights and smells he hadn’t been around for decades.

The city’s sharp, jagged architecture, all built of black stone, hinted of Malinor’s brutality. Merchants clothed in dull, drab colors yelled at darkly dressed townspeople on the street.

The general and his spies walked by a large crowd of what appeared to be the Malinorian elite. Men in well-tailored black tunics and shined leather boots were accompanied by tall, beautiful ladies adorned with dark makeup and tightly laced corset gowns.

There were no children. In Malinor, the very young were neither seen nor heard.

The crowd was most likely watching either a public torture or a slave auction.

Edandir flinched. Talya had drifted over to the group of people. She stood on tiptoe, trying to see over some of the men.

Tanel grabbed her arm and brought her back to the group.

Edandir shook his head.

There were several Malinorian knights patrolling the streets. Talya should have known that she had to be extra careful so as not to draw any attention to them.

“We are here solely for this mission, Talya,” whispered Edandir. “This is not a leisurely excursion. Don’t make me regret asking you to be here.”

She nodded, but he knew beneath that mask was a scowl. It was a mistake to bring her along.

“Where do you think Ittonifer is?” asked Tanel.

“Probably on the training field.”

They left the bustling city and traveled down another dirt road that led to the military base. Edandir felt like he had been there just yesterday. It was so familiar. Thousands of soldiers dueled and sparred on the training field.

Edandir scanned the area for Ittonifer. The man often personally trained his knights, but today there was no sign of him.

An alarming shofar’s cry pierced the air. It had come from the inner city.

All of the Malinorian soldiers sheathed their swords and marched toward the city.

Edandir jogged over to one of them.

“Why is everyone quitting so early?”

“Where have you been? Everyone’s to be at the coliseum this afternoon. Ittonifer’s got something special planned.”

I’ll bet.

Edandir and his spies followed the hundreds of soldiers to a grand amphitheater in the center of the city.

“Stay close to me, everyone. If we get separated somehow, then we will meet back in the forest. Go there as soon as this meeting is over,” said Edandir.

They all walked inside.

Edandir had never been on the inside of the great structure before. He remembered back when it was first being built. It was larger than he had imagined it would be.

Thousands of people already sat on stone benches. The Malinorian knights were seated at the bottom rows of the circular building.

Edandir and his small clan sat down side by side. He was relieved they hadn’t been scattered by the crowds.

“I’ve never seen anything like it!” Talya exclaimed.

She was sitting next to him, but anyone within earshot could have heard her unmistakably feminine voice.

“Please don’t speak until we leave this place,” Edandir hissed.

He was about to continue the lecture, but a series of horns interrupted him. The audience instantly fell silent.

The orchestra began to play a soft, mournful piece of music.

Edandir had heard that song once before. He had nearly forgotten. The intoxicating tune took him back to a time over twenty years ago. He didn’t want to go there again.

Ittonifer stepped onto the field wearing his armor and battle helmet.

The crowd cheered, drowning out the song and its enchantment.

The Malinorian ruler looked imposing as always with his prominent stature and powerful build. He had barely aged.

Ittonifer stopped once he reached the middle of the field. The music ceased. Another tall, fully armored man approached Ittonifer and then bowed at his feet.

It was Jalarn.


Talya watched the warrior that had nearly killed her bow at his uncle’s feet. She balled her fists.

One day I will kill you. Then we will see which one of us is truly alone.

His hollow voice still echoed in her mind.

“Commander Jalarn,” began Ittonifer in a loud voice, “you have proven to be my most worthy commander. You cleverly gained King Seraphim’s trust, took all of his wealth, and now you have fully submitted yourself to the prince.”

Talya gritted her teeth. She wanted to drive her blade right through Jalarn. He had killed Cardamon’s king – her king!

Her gut knotted at the thought of him entering into eternity after denying God.

Then again, what about me? I haven’t stepped foot inside a church for years, let alone prayed. What if I had died back in the forest?

Ittonifer tapped the flat part of his sword on his nephew’s left shoulder.

Then, Jalarn stood.

“Malinor, behold your General. My left-hand man!”

The auditorium roared with thunderous applause and loud cheers.

Several ladies threw flowers and jewelry onto the field. Ittonifer’s guards gathered up the items.

A line of cloaked men entered the stadium and bowed once they reached Ittonifer.

Once again, the people stilled and silence settled in.

“They’re sorcerers,” whispered Edandir.

Talya rolled her eyes.

What kind of a ruler would be naive enough to believe that magic is real? I thought Ittonifer was clever.

“Aterun, high priest of Malinor, please step forward,” said Ittonifer.

A shriveled elderly man stepped out from the line of warlocks and hobbled over to the ruler. He knelt.

“Citizens of Malinor,” said Ittonifer, “I bring you our lord’s devoted servants. Through their devotion to the dark arts, we will conquer Sanctus! We will send thousands to their deaths by our lord’s power. He will give us what is rightfully ours!”

The crowd cheered.

“Aterun will lead us all in a chant. Together, we will curse the rebel nation and their warriors. Their destruction will begin today.”

Edandir turned to Talya and leaned close.

“Guard your heart, Talya. Pray,” he said.

“Why?”

She couldn’t remember her father ever talking about prayer. Sure, Sanctus was a God-serving nation, but a lot of the military people didn’t really practice it. He had apparently changed a lot since she moved to Cardamon.

“This is a matter of life and death, Talya. Trust me. Pray.”

The strange music started to play again. A chill ran down Talya’s spine.

Life and death. What is he talking about?

On her other side, Tanel shifted in his seat.

“We shouldn’t be here,” he said.

Maybe there was more to this magic stuff than she had thought.

“But magic isn’t real, right?” Talya whispered, feeling childish.

“Magic is just a fancy word for devil worship. It is powerless against God, but it can deceive and conquer humans,” said Tanel.

“Well, then. I guess we had better pray,” said Talya.

His eyes bore into hers for a moment before he closed them.

Talya started to cover her ears as she tried to focus on saying something to God, but the music was… beautiful.

The sorcerers began to chant in perfect harmony to the song.

Beyond the music, beyond the noise, Talya thought she heard a thick, soothing voice whispering to her. She moved her hands away from her ears.

“Talya…”

She shook her head, but it had already permeated her mind.

“You want this. You know you do. I’ve been watching you, and I know what it is that you seek. Your so-called God has failed you. His people have held you back. I will make you more powerful than you could ever dream. I can give it all to you. Just submit your life to me.”

Talya trembled. It was the dark lord. She knew it. But she liked what he had promised, even though it was wrong. She had ignored God for years, but she could never follow the devil. Not for any reason.

Talya clenched her jaw.

No!